EPL Week 35 – All or Nothing

Cardiff City have requested that their 3-0 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier this month should not stand according to documents obtained by the BBC.

The document, which has been sent to the Premier League, alleges that Palace sporting director Ian Moody, who formerly worked for Cardiff, obtained the Cardiff’s starting eleven before the game.

Cardiff say they have proof that Moody obtained the sensitive information, which they say breaches the EPL rules.

Cardiff claim Moody mistakenly sent a text message with the starting XI to Bolton manager Dougie Freedman a day before the game. Freedman is then said to have tipped off Bluebirds boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer about the leak because they are friends, having attended coaching courses together.

Cardiff player Aron Gunnarsson denies he is the source of the leak, and Cardiff want the Premier League to find out who may have been responsible.

The Welsh club claim all this amounts to a serious breach of the spirit of the Premier League’s chairman’s charter, which requires clubs to behave with “utmost good faith and honesty to each other”.

Specifically, Cardiff say Palace have broken three Premier League rules: B15, B16 and B17. Rule B17 is potentially the most serious as it states that no club shall disclose or divulge confidential information.

Palace boss Tony Pulis has refused to comment on the situation, though Palace deny the allegations.

The Premier League has confirmed it has received a formal complaint from Cardiff and is assessing the evidence to see if there is a case to answer.

Four Liverpool players up for PFA awards

Liverpool players Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard, Daniel Sturridge and Raheem Sterling have all been nominated for awards at the Professional Footballers’ Association’s player of the year awards.

Suarez surely is favorite for the PFA Player of the Year. (Getty Images)

Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, Steven Gerrard and Daniel Sturridge are joined by Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure, winger Eden Hazard of Chelsea and Southampton playmaker Adam Lallana who have all been nominated for the Professional Footballers’ Association’s player of the year award.

Hazard and Sturridge have also been named in the PFA young player award, along with Liverpool’s Raheem Sterling, Arsenal’s Aaron Ramsey, Everton’s Ross Barkley, and Southampton’s Luke Shaw.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London on Sunday, 27 April.

Liverpool’s Uruguay striker , Luis Suarez, 27, is favorite to win the award having netted 29 league goals in 29 EPL games for top-of-the-table Liverpool this season.

Predictions

Week 34

Score

Predictions

SATURDAY

Crystal Palace v Aston Villa

1-0

1-0

Fulham v Norwich

1-0

2-1

Southampton v Cardiff

0-1

3-0

Stoke v Newcastle

1-0

2-0

Sunderland v Everton

0-1

1-2

West Brom v Tottenham

3-3

2-2

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

Wigan v Arsenal

1-1 (Arsenal win on Pens)

1-2

SUNDAY

Liverpool v Man City

3-2

3-2

Swansea v Chelsea

0-1

1-3

FA CUP SEMI-FINAL

Hull v Sheffield Utd

5-3

2-0

A correct result (ie picking a win, draw or defeat) is worth ONE point. A correct score earns THREE points.

Last week I got EIGHT correct results, including TWO perfect scores, to give me a grand total 13-points—which is the season’s highest score!

There are only four more weeks left to go, so time is running out for me to top that score, but I’ll give it my best shot.

Week 35

Predictions

SATURDAY

Tottenham v Fulham

2-1

Aston Villa v Southampton

1-2

Cardiff v Stoke

2-2

Newcastle v Swansea

1-1

West Ham v Crystal Palace

1-2

Chelsea v Sunderland

2-0

SUNDAY

Norwich v Liverpool

0-3

Hull v Arsenal

1-2

Everton v Man Utd

2-2

MONDAY

Man City v West Brom

3-0

Preview

SATURDAY

Chelsea v Sunderland

Sunderland’s got an excellent 2-2 draw away to Manchester City during the week, but remain at the bottom of the EPL and six-points adrift of safety. But the result will have boosted their confidence and the Blacks Cats will fancy their chances against second place Chelsea.

The Black Cats draw also helped Chelsea, as it means the Blues can now win the EPL if they win the rest of their games. The Blues edged past Swansea 1-0 during the week without playing well, but won’t care much as the result means they remain just two-points behind leaders Liverpool, who they face next week.

Hazard (L) who is up for both the PFA young player and player of the year will be mission .(Getty Images)

Chelsea will be without top scorer Eden Hazard who is still struggling with a calf injury.

Phil Bardsley is still suspended for Sunderland and is joined on the sidelines by Ki Sung-Yeung, who has tendonitis, meaning the Black Cats could name the same side that drew with Man City earlier in the week.

Chelsea face a pivotal couple of weeks, with a trip to Atletico Madrid midweek to think about before next week big game away to Liverpool, meaning the Blues might be tempted to rest some players.

However, Chelsea cannot afford to drop any points and I expect them to field a strong side. Sunderland need a result and will no doubt make things difficult for Chelsea, but I think they lack class all over the field and Chelsea should win this one.

Prediction: 2-0

SUNDAY

Norwich v Liverpool

Norwich lost a massive game against Fulham last week and are now in real danger of being relegated. The Canaries remain two-points ahead of Fulham, but have a hard run-in with games against Liverpool, Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal left to play.

Steven Gerrard is starting to believe his team can win the EPL title. (Getty Images)

Liverpool overcame Man City in a thriller 3-2 to really strengthen their chances of winning their first league title in 24-years. The Reds played magnificently and now hold a two-point lead over Chelsea who they face next week. After the game Captain Stephan Gerrard gathered the team into a huddle and asked them to approach this weekend’s game with the same desire and intensity.

Norwich could welcome back captain Sebastien Bassong, who was left out of the defeat by Fulham last weekend.

Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge is a major doubt with a hamstring injury, while midfielder Jordan Henderson is suspended.

Both sides need a win and may go all out to get it. Liverpool are the inform side in the EPL at the moment and will be heavy favorites to win this game. The Reds are the EPL’s top scorers with 93 goals and beat The Canaries 5-1 earlier.

Norwich are expected to lose all of their remaining games and probably will approach everyone as a cup. I expect them to them to give their best against Liverpool, but I just do not think it will be enough.

Prediction: 0-2

Everton v Man Utd

When Everton eased past Arsenal a couple of weeks ago, they looked like they were capable of finishing in the top four. However, a midweek 3-2 home defeat to Crystal Palace coupled with Arsenal beating West Ham has seen Everton drop below the Gunners, and I don’t think they will make the grade now.

Toffees manager Roberto Martinez said his side could suffer from the pressure of expectations, and he appeared correct as his side failed to lay their normal fluid soccer.

Juan Mata is starting to show his class in the midfield to United. (Getty Images)

Manchester United beat Newcastle 4-0 away last week, which was perhaps their best performance of the season thus far. Juan Mata was the star of the show, scoring two and creating another. The Red Devils have improved in recent weeks with Juan Mata, Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa all linking up well.

Everton captain Phil Jagielka and midfielder James McCarthy are fit again, though they’re both unlikely to start.

Manchester United have defensive troubles with Rafael and Johnny Evans both struggling with injury.

However, striker Wayne Rooney is available after a toe injury, while Marouane Fellaini should also be fit.

Everton have been imperious at home this season, losing only twice at Goodison all season. The Toffees won at Old Trafford earlier in the season and will be confident of getting a positive result against United on Saturday.

United have the best away record in the EPL this season, but they have struggled and are not the side they once were. The Red Devils don’t really have anything left to play for this season and the lack of pressure may help them express themselves.

Everton will be looking to hold onto the 5th spot and a Europa spot.(ISI Photos/Kieran McManus)

This game should be an intriguing one, as both teams have exciting forward players. Everton need the win and will probably go all out to get it, however, I think this game will end in a stalemate.

Prediction: 2-2

About Anthony Ta

Anthony Ta is a writer for the GotSoccer Magazine, specializing in Premier League, Champions League and the Euros.